Where I am from

I am from a small world of being scared
I am from a cage with a few toys, a frightened mother and an abusive man
I am from the wanting to see sunlight beyond the window in my bedroom
I am from a tiny beat up trailer on top of the hill

I am from a place where cries mean the man is hurting her
I am from the sound of being told I’ll never make it
I am from the loud but unheard cries for help

I am from the smell of wood and rusty cars just beyond my “back yard”
I am from the smell of burnt food
I am from the homemade cookies and fudge at grandmas at Christmas
I am from the wanting to smell fresh air

I am from the copper taste of blood from the cut on my lip because the slipper missed the dog
I am from the rancid taste of being rejected as a child
I am from wanting to taste freedom outside of school

I am from the feel of the door knob opening the gate to… beyond the door
I am from the feeling of loneliness; the door to freedom is one call away to freedom.
I am from the feeling of finally being heard, being taken away to a place where I don’t have to hear the cries of a mother in pain. I am from being taken to a home that gave me nightmares, because I was scared to leave her alone.

I am from starting new
I am from never having to feel my mother’s tears on my cheek, or the bumps underneath her soft blonde hair

Finally I am from being free, free to grow up, free to be me!